The Bookclub of the Woodland Grove

Nora the Owl smiled as she placed the crockpot full of hot chocolate on the table. She looked over the table and did her mental checklist. Coffee, check. Hot chocolate, check. Cups, check., Napkin, check. All that was missing was the tray of goodies. But it was Bernard the Raccoon’s week to bring them, which meant they were in for a real treat. No one made desserts as good as Bernard’s wife, Beatrice. Nora looked around the little room where she ran the book club. She hadn’t made many changes to the room over the years she’d worked at the library. She liked it the way it was, a nice hardwood floor and soft blue coloured walls. She always sets out six chairs, four for her regulars and two just in case, you never know who might want to join. 

She walked back to her desk and grabbed two extra copies of the book for the fall and winter months, “Through the Puddles.” It had been Violet the Skunk’s idea, and everyone but Bernard had agreed to it. 

“Hello, Nora!” Abigail the Squirrel smiled as she walked in. As a mother of four, Abigail was almost always early. Book club was her one escape, she often joked.

“Hi, Abby. You're 10 minutes early. I’m not quite set up.”

“Oh, that’s okay, Nora. I’ll just go look at some kids' books. Tommy wanted some new ones anyway.” Nora nodded, and she went back to the book club room to finish setting up. 

Eight minutes later, Violet and Jenna the Rabbit walked in. Violet was the newest addition to their club. She had just finished her schooling to become a teacher and had moved back home this summer, and got a job at their local elementary school. Jenna, an empty nester who had once had a full nest when Nora started this book club, had been attending book club since day one and was one of Nora’s closest friends. 

“Welcome, please grab a drink, Bernard should be here soon with our goodies.”

“Here I am. No need to get impatient.” Bernard muttered as he walked in with a tray of snickerdoodles. He set them on the table, grabbed his coffee and sat down. 

“Not even going to enjoy a snickerdoodle?” Abby teased, walking in with a stack of kids' books.

“Bah, Beatrice is on my case about watching my health. No goodies for me.” Bernard sulked as he took a sip of coffee.

“We won’t tell her,” Jenna winked at Bernard, handing him a cookie. Bernard offered a small smile before accepting the cookie. 

Nora waited until everyone had found their seats. “I assume everyone read the intro, Jump Together?” Everyone nodded. “Excellent, well, let’s jump in, shall we?” Nora giggled at her own pun, while a few others, namely Bernard, rolled their eyes.

“Oh, I just loved it so much!” Violet exclaimed while jumping in her seat. “It was the perfect intro. I loved how the author used a short story to explain what the book was about!”

“Yes, it was rather unusual, but I do feel it fit what the author was trying to convey what her book is about,” Jenna added.

“Too whimsical if you ask me,” Bernard jumped in. “ You need  a book full of substance, not whimsy la-dee-da nonsense.” Nora suppressed the eye roll she felt coming on. “I still say we needed a good, solid historical book. One that gets you thinking and reflecting.” 

“No one is forcing you to be here, Bernard,” Jenna spoke gently, “if you don’t like the book, you can go home.”

“You know I can’t leave. Beatrice has her quilting circle tonight, and my critiques of the quilts aren’t appreciated.”

“Are they really critiques? Or are they more like judgmental comments?” Violet levelled a glare at Bernard. Bernard glared right back, but said nothing in defence. 

Nora smiled at the antics of the oldest and youngest before cutting in.“Perhaps a perspective shift is in order. Bernard, you say there is no thinking and reflecting in this book, but perhaps that’s what it’s all about? Reflecting on childhood wonder and excitement, and thinking about how we can recapture it. Isn’t that what this intro was all about? Taking a break from the worries of life and picking up a childhood hobby?”

“I say it was a nice break from the mental load I carry,” Abby sighed, “Being a mom, always having to look out for my kids, helping them with homework, laundry, cooking. I just don’t have time for myself. I personally love the idea of trying to recapture some of the whimsiness of childhood.”

“I agree with Abby,” Violet cut in. “Life is always about moving to the next thing: go to school, find a job, make money, get married, raise kids. There’s not a lot of time for fun. Maybe what the world needs is for all of us to find our inner child and let them out every once and a while.”

“Bah, back in my day, we worked hard to provide, even as kids! There was no whimsy to be had.”

“Then perhaps,  this book is your chance to find whimsy now.” Jenna gently suggested to Bernard. “Wouldn’t it be fun to not worry about everything and just kick back and enjoy a fun short story every now and then? I believe the author's intent was for all of us to release our inner child.  I did that this week! I pulled out my old paints and started painting again.”

“Oh! That’s wonderful, Jenna!” 

“Yes, it is, Abby. I think this book is what we all need right now.”

“What a wonderful sentiment, Jenna.” Nora pulled the group back in. “Does anyone else have thoughts on the intro?” Nora listened as the group carried on for another hour before ending the meeting. “Alright for next time, let’s read the first two short stories in the Romance Section.”

“ROMANCE! No one told me we would be reading romance stories! What have you ladies pulled me into?” Bernard huffed and glared at them.

“Bernard, did you actually do any research on this book like I suggested before we picked it?” Nora asked. Bernard huffed and sank further into his seat. “I’ll take that as a no. For next week, have “He Swore He Wouldn’t and Unwanted Invite” read.” Nora grinned as the group ended and everyone packed up. 

“Have a good week, Nora!” Violet smiled as she left, along with Abby.

“Need any help with clean up?” Bernard asked as he covered the leftover snickerdoodles.

“Oh, no, thank you, Bernard. I think I’ve got it covered, but I do hope you can enjoy some of the stories in the book.” Bernard offered her a nod as he headed out. 

“I’ll see you Thursday for paint night. I decided to join the program!” Jenna hugged Nora.

“I look forward to it!” Nora locked the door and waved goodbye to Jenna. She had a good feeling about this book.

Whose the writer? My sister Emily Morris! On top of being my little sister, she is also a mama to two very adorable tiny tornadoes. She loves reading and writing in her spare time.